SpaceX preps for Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites on Friday

Following the launch of the Ax-3 private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, SpaceX is now gearing up to send a new batch of Starlink internet satellites to low-Earth orbit.

A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites will lift off at 6:15 p.m. PT on Friday, January 19 from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Additionally, backup opportunities are available until 9:58 p.m. PT. The launch was initially scheduled for Thursday, January 18 but was deferred due to undisclosed reasons.

Standing down from tonight's Falcon 9 launch attempt, now targeting Friday, January 19 → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 19, 2024

Friday's launch marks the 16th flight for the Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting the mission, which previously launched Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich, DART, Transporter-7, Iridium OneWeb, SDA-0B, and 10 Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the "Of Course I Still Love You droneship", which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.

You can watch the live coverage of this Starlink mission on X @SpaceX, which will commence about five minutes prior to liftoff.